Cousins' War (5) - The White Princess by Philippa Gregory
The morbidly fascinating story of the first Tudor Queen – Elizabeth of York, The White Princess, the 5th woman of the Cousin's Wars (La princesse blanche, Die Rosenkriege – das Erbe der weißen Rose). I heard it as an English Audio Book. Originally published 2013.
Elizabeth of York, the once most beloved and most beautiful princess at court, is disgraced. Everyone she loves is dead, like the rightful heirs to the throne, her beloved brothers. Or are they? When Elizabeth is betrothed again to Henry VII, rumours of a boy spread. A charismatic boy who looks like her brother… Where do Elizabeth's loyalties lie? With her husband, who raped her to make sure she's fertile? Who holds her cousin Edward in the accursed tower? Or to the Boy, who might be her brother, Richard? To The White Queen, her mother, who tries to set the Boy on the throne? Elizabeth doesn't know. The only thing she does know for sure is that her brothers' murderer will be cursed and loose his heir and his son's heir, before they come into power – until the line is ended with a childless girl...
How two such intelligent and politically clever people as Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville can have a daughter so stupid... seriously. Half of the time I can't believe she's asking these questions! But Elizabeth's kindness and naivité saves her life, in the end. Because she can't know more than nothing, with a husband as paranoid as that!
Seriously. Henry VII is crazy! How can she bear it? I'm so sorry for Elizabeth and for his children. But I'm also kind of sorry for him and his mother. They try and do everything they can, and still the public is against them and for the Boy.
I like the Boy, by the way. He's really remarkably like his father – and Elizabeth, in a way. He seems as innocent and is as charming. But he's also sly and intelligent. He knows what he can and can't do. As for his wife: She's really something. But I'm sorry for Elizabeth when she and Henry VII hook up. Even though Elizabeth has deserved it in a way, she did betray him first. On the other hand, Henry and his mother deserved their fate as well – the fate to be, just like Margaret of Anjou – always insecure on their throne, never to be loved, because of all the cruelty the commit to gain power.
I like how Elizabeth's children are described. Especially Arthur. It's a shame he didn't get on a throne in the end.
But Elizabeth's visions are well done as well – the red haired Tudor queen called Elizabeth... I think she really might get famous.
As for Elizabeth's mother – also Elizabeth (my god, this is so confusing! Every second female is called Elizabeth or Margaret!) - I'm sorry for her fate. But it's funny how she treats and talks about My Lady the King's Mother. She really takes herself far too serious. She remembers me of a teacher of mine...
Well. Who else? Yes! Maggie. I like Maggie, she's really cool. I'm sorry of how Henry treats her and about her poor brother. Seriously. And she's such a contrast to Elizabeth of York's sister Cecily... god, that girl got on your nerves!
As you can see, the historical persons are described very colourful. They seem as real as living persons – which they were, in the end. I liked best the hints to the future, which made you smile but didn't take away any of the tenseness. If you don't know the story of Elizabeth of York yet, there are twists that will surprise you a lot. The theme with the Boy was dragged. But this is a historical event, not the author's doing. She actually made this rather monotonous story nice to read, even though two of the main characters are fanatic slash paranoid. That was hard to do.
In brief:
Well. I give stars for the historic background, characters, style and ideas.
Prequel:
Sequel: